Intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor injection in patient during pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose: To report the clinical course of a woman treated with intravitreal bevacizumab during pregnancy. Case report: A 27-year-old female with poorly controlled diabetes and a history of two previous miscarriage was referred to our hospital with sudden deterioration in visual acuity (VA) in her right eye. Ocular findings revealed severe Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) complicated with preretinal hemorrhages in her right eye, and after maximal Panretinal Photocoagulation (PRP) bilaterally, she was treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) into the right eye. Twenty four hours after the bevacizumab injection, she reported vaginal bleeding, and ultrasound confirmed a 12-week pregnancy of which the patient was unaware. The patient suffered from pregnancy loss. Conclusion: Use of intravitreal anti-VEGF by pregnant woman may only be justified if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus and only if clearly needed. Intravitreal bevacizumab during pregnancy in women with a history of miscarriage should be used with caution.